Explore Our Work
TEA is committed to providing families, students, and schools with high quality supports to enable students with disabilities to achieve the highest outcomes. The links below lead to information and resources provided by TEA toward achieving that goal.
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Data and Reports
The latest data regarding SpEd in Texas
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Dispute Resolution
Information to support stakeholders to resolve SpEd disputes
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Family Resources
Information & resources to help families understand SpEd processes
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Monitoring, Review, and Support
Information & resources regarding the monitoring of SpEd programs in Texas
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TEA Special Education Guidance
Guidance to Texas public schools in their implementation of strong and effective programs
Stay Informed
TEA hosts webinars and sends monthly newsletters to provide the most current information regarding special education in Texas.
Intensity of Services Special Education Funding Model
Every student who meets eligibility as a child with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) must be determined to need specially designed instruction (SDI) in some way. Under previous funding structures, instructional setting (e.g., general education or special education classroom, home, hospital, off home campus) has historically played a significant role in how special education services were understood and funded. This new intensity of services funding model is intentionally designed to shift that focus from centering determinations based on where services are delivered, to instead emphasize the intensity of the SDI and related supports required for a student to access and make progress in their enrolled grade level curriculum.
Funding Model Resources
TEA has created the following resources to support school systems in determining the tier of intensity and service groups for their students. These resources are all available on Texas SPED Support.
TAA Letter from April 16, 2026
TEA disseminated a To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) Letter on April 16, 2026, that should be used to support school systems with this new process and model.
Proposed Commissioner Rule
The proposed commissioner rules related to the service intensity model will be posted in the Texas Register for public comment within the next few weeks. The draft rules are available to view but are subject to change before publication in the Texas Register and again at final adoption, which is expected to occur this summer or early fall.
TAA Letter from May 28, 2026
The purpose of this communication is to provide an update to the April 16th guidance and to notify school systems of a grant opportunity to assist with student-level data review over the summer.
Executive Report: IEP Form and Digital Platform Landscape Analysis
In 2024, the TEA contracted with the American Institute for Research® (AIR®) to conduct a comprehensive landscape analysis of IEP forms and digital platforms and how they are used across the United States. For this purpose, AIR conducted a study aimed at examining how other states manage their IEP forms and digital platforms, including state-adopted forms and platforms, state-negotiated vendor contracts, and minimum standards for locally procured IEP platforms. This report provides a summary of the findings from the study, including insights into how other states implement and manage IEP forms and digital platforms.